Investment Q&A

Q: Good Morning
Can you please list the following sectors from the most vulnerable to the least affected by Trump's tariffs ? Please deduct as many credits as required. Thank you again for your insight.

Banks
Insurance Companies
REITS
Staples
Communication Services
Utilities
Pipelines
Discretionary
Technology
Energy
Materials
Industrials

Q: Hi - have some dry powder available to be able to invest. We're close enough to the orange-man implementing tariffs that I'm going to wait and see what happens next week before deploying. I'm guessing any decline in stocks will be felt more in Canada than the US, but I"m wondering what you think might take a hit and what Cdn & US companies you might look at buying should the market have a healthy pullback. Probably better to ask if/when things sell off, but I'm just trying to prep my shopping list. Thx.

Q: hi,
do you have an educated "guesstimate" of the downside risk if Trump's tariffs go through across the board Saturday? percentage down?
also, can I get your most current thinking as to which sectors, and particular equities, are at greatest risk of a sell-off?
cheers, Chris

Q: Perhaps I wasn't crystal clear in my earlier question on these 3 - Canadian companies with US operations could be a target under the IRS section 891 to double taxes paid on their US operations. What Canadian companies might be affected by 891 in retaliation for our Digital Services Tax to pay more US tax?

https://financialpost.com/news/economy/canadian-business-pay-price-digital-services-tax

Q: As a recently returned member I know you do not generally like to time the market. Situation is, my portfolio is in the hands of an advisor. I've simply not spent as much as I withdraw monthly and now have a reasonably significant amount of cash in my chequing account. Thinking of investing through RBC Direct or Wealth Simple but using my decisions based on your site for direction.
Question is...leaving the money in the account I'm not loosing anything except through inflation. I don't mind waiting given all the noise and Headlines from Trump. Am I at undo risk jumping in now? Do I wait to see what happens? Do I start to trickle in?
Thank you, Dave

Q: What is the outlook for CAD ? Is it a good time to accumulate more USD (or gold) ?
Thanks!

Q: How concerned should i be regarding Saturday's looming Trump tariffs on Canadian stocks and ETF's ? Should i sell any of my most vulnerable stocks ahead of time ? Is the fear already baked in or is my paranoia in any way justified ? thanks.

Q: I have about 10% cash that I am considering putting in U.S. stocks. Even with our $.69 dollar, I don't see any catalysts to improve that over the next few years. I have a good diverse portfolio in both $Cdn and $US, but I am definitely lighter in US exposure.
With the uncertainty of tariffs, Canada with no real leadership for the foreseeable months ahead, the US "Drill baby drill", and Canada not seeming able to attract large international investment, is there anything left to drive growth in Canada?
I am retired, so I want something that should be a little less volatile. I'm thinking of adding to MSFT and JPM, to bring them to a full 5% position. Is this a good idea, and if so, can you also recommend 2 other stocks for me to look at. What are your thoughts on Healthcare, stocks or ETFs, with the new administration? Everything US is inside my RRSP. Thank you

Q: I have two entirely different endpoints for my TFSA and my RRSP. TFSA is shorter-term funds to pay down my mortgage, and RRSP - its intended purpose, longer-term funding for my retirement. In this case, would you consider the percentage of each account separately when weighting, or use the combined value? Currently I am separating, but because I own a couple of doubles (NVDA and TVK for example), the position sizes are higher than I would normally hold. If considered together, my positions do not exceed my maximum weighting. Thanks!

Q: Hello, with the coming of the US tariffs and counter tariffs, which CDN sectors are insulated and which are vulnerable?
What would be you best stock recommendations to invest new money?
Thanks
Carlo

Q: With Trump demanding the “independent Fed” reduce interest rates….how could this or not affect the stock market?
Thanks
Ben

Q: In the “new Trump reality” and associated statements and his expressed policies goals for the American economy directions for the near and long term would you advise/recommend your specific portfolios content/weighting adjustments in regards to geography , type of investments , cash % and any other potentially important issues ? Or should they stay as designed before the Trump second presidency term ? Certainly Trump election has generated a lot of noise in the media including business media . Thank you for your opinion and input in this obviously concerning and confusing times .

Q: I am 45% Canadian and 45% US, 10% international, what do you suggest this year? I would love to reduce the US but is there alternatives ?

Q: In a normal world I would keep both of these for diversification purposes. But this isn't a normal world. It's a Trump world and Feb.1 is an ominous date to me . I have a 3% position in HDIV and a 3.5% position in HYLD.U . I am re-balancing for Trumpification purposes generally { individual Trump vulnerable Canadian stocks are being sold and cash is being raised . Likely somewhere around 20%-25% cash when I am done } } and will likely increase HYLD.U to around 9-10% when finished . Would you endorse selling my HDIV and using the funds to increase HYLD.U ? Selling one to buy the other will bring my HYLD.U to somewhere around 6.5 % before I decide whether or not to go as high as 10% . The decision on the increase from 6.5% to 10% will be made after I see just exactly what he has planned ..... The question really is whether you would endorse a move away from Canada in the short term with these two ETF's ? At least until the smoke clears ? Thanks for your terrific service ......Garth ......

Q: Dear 5i Team!

I am sure like many millions you have been watching Presidet Trump's inagural address. Especially given the fact that the US market is closed toay because of MLK day!
Any takeaways from investment/trading points of view?

Canadian market is open and I see Oil has barely moved. (post Trump speech) Gold is down but to an alrming extent. CAD is slightly up! I am not sure if this is because the US markets are closed or because of "moderate" tone in Trump's speech. I didn't hear China or Iran ONCE! Neither did he bring his desire for the 51st state!

Anyway feel free to share your musings.

Q: Everyone, I hear a lot about paying less fees (MER or Trading fees) and over time the money that can be saved. But what is the best ideas to having a better overall return? Diversification? Less trading? Buying the best stocks? Etc.. Clayton

Q: Everyone, how often should I pay attention to the VIX? I am a buy and hold investor. Clayton

Q: How significant is foreign buying/selling of Canadian stocks, in terms of the effect it has on share prices? I can't help but think that the current Canadian political situation, and weak dollar, is causing a lot of foreign money to stay away. I'm wondering if a more stable and business-friendly government, if/when the PC's get elected, would cause a significant influx of foreign investment into Canadian stocks. Do you think such a scenario would improve the performance of Canadian stocks?

Q: As irrational as it seems,Trump may impose tariffs soon after his inauguration just to appease his voting base.A likely “knee jerk “reaction would send these stocks lower.Do you think this would create a buying opportunity?Are there others in your portfolios that could be affected? Some of this uncertainty must be already be priced in,but CLS seems immune to this.

Q: Is there a safe place to hide in Canada with the incoming US tariffs? What is your take and what would be your strategy to protect capital?